Alex & Elaine’s Wedding Photography: Traditional Filipino Church Wedding

Alex and Elaine’s traditional church wedding ceremony at St Mark Catholic Church in Virginia Beach began exactly on time.

As the last remaining guests were seated, the bridal party lined up by the entrance to the chapel and prepared to start the ceremony.

The first ones to enter were the priest, grandparents of Elaine, followed by the wedding primary and secondary sponsors.

Alex, escorted by his parents then finished the entrance of the bridal party and awaited at the altar for Elaine’s entrance.

A minute after the flower girl walked down the isle, all the attention switched towards the double doors as Elaine along with both of his parents walked towards the isle leading to the altar.

Alex and Elaine’s wedding ceremony consisted of more than just the typical exchanging of the rings and vows.

Below is a photo of Alex and Elaine at the start of exchanging rings.

It was also included a full Catholic mass with communion and the additional formalities which makes it traditional.

It also includes the groom offering the 13 pieces of gold/silver to the bride as a pledge of his dedication to the welfare of his wife and children.

Then a pivotal moment takes place as Alex and Elaine light the Unity candle to symbolize God’s presence in the marriage.

It is then followed by the sponsors to drape and pin over a white veil over the Alex’s shoulder and over the Elaine’s head – this symbolizes couple ‘clothed’ as one.

The last part of the ceremony is the laying of the figure eight cord over Alex and Elaine’s shoulder, this symbolizes the infinite bond of marriage.

Moments after the blessings, the same sponsors went back and took the cord and veil off from Alex and Elaine.

Once the veil and cord ceremony portion was completed, the priest gave one final blessing, and announced the newly weds.

Alex and Elaine then began taking their first steps as husband and wife and led the recessional.

We then led the bridal party in a holding room while the guests from the church headed to the Sheraton hotel at the Oceanfront where the cocktail hour started.